CB Daily’s Preseason League Teams, Part I

For the past few weeks, moving into months now, College Baseball Daily has been publishing articles on each college baseball conference, with all kinds of tidbits, like returners, newcomers, and the list ATVL is always looking for- preseason All-League teams.

So like usual, ATVL has combed through the lists, finding any and all who have played in the Valley League. In this first part, we’ll take a look at the AAC, the Atlantic 10, the ACC, and the Atlantic Sun Conference. There are fifteen players listed today- eight from Charlottesville, three from Winchester, two from New Market, and one each from Strasburg and Waynesboro. Several more parts to come….

American Athletic Conference

East Carolina’s Jake Washer (New Market 2017) is preseason first team at catcher. For the Pirates in 2018, Jake hit 287/395/436 in 202 at-bats, with 32 runs, 40 RBIs, 10 doubles, 1 triple, and 6 home runs. For the Rebels in the summer of ’17, Jake was one of the best hitters in the league (#9, to be exact), finishing his 133 at-bats at 346/421/534, with 36 runs, 35 RBIs, 10 doubles, and 5 home runs.

Trevor Jensen (Winchester 2016), from Tulane, is 2nd team preseason at first base. Trevor hit 306/369/518 for Tulane in 2018, with 35 runs, 35 RBIs, 12 doubles, 1 triple, and 9 home runs in 193 at-bats. For the Royals in 2016, in 171 plate appearances, Jensen hit 275/347/362, with 25 runs, 20 RBIs, 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 home runs, along with a 15/21 BB/K ratio.

East Carolina’s Brady Lloyd (New Market 2016) is listed at honorable mention at second base. For ECU last year, Brady hit 322/388/402 in 214 at-bats, with 11 doubles, 2 home runs, 41 runs, 25 RBIs, and a 16/37 BB/K ratio. For the Rebs in 2016, he hit 247/391/301 in 93 at-bats, with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 16 runs, 13 RBIs, and an excellent 18/17 BB/K ratio.

Atlantic 10 (Seven players!)

Eric Jones (Charlottesville 2017) was named preseason first team at catcher for Davidson. Eric hit 333/443/577 in 201 at-bats for the ‘Cats in 2018, with 14 doubles, 1 triple, 11 home runs, and a 37/36 BB/K ratio. He went 29-92 for the Sox in ’17, with 7 doubles.

Also from Davidson, Brett Centracchio (Charlottesville 2018) is first team at first base. Brett hit 224/313/353 in 85 at-bats for the Tom Sox last summer, and 263/365/432 in 213 at-bats for the Wildcats, with 4 doubls, 4 home runs, and an 13/26 BB/K ratio.

One of the best hitters in 2018, George Washington’s Dominic D’Alessandro (Charlottesville) is first team at designated hitter. He hit 318/394/544 in 195 at-bats for GW last season, with 15 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs, and a 20/46 BB/K ratio. He was just as good for the Tom Sox last June and July, slashing 324/371/529 in 136 at-bats, with 10 doubles, 6 home runs, and an amazing 48 RBIs.

Another Tom Sox (seeing a theme?), Connor Gillispie (2017), from VCU, is first team at starting pitcher. And for good reason, as he went 7-3, 2.57 in 18 starts in 2018, with a 1.11 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9, and 11.9 K/9 in 73 2/3 innings (97 K’s!). For the Tom Sox in 2017, he went 2-0, 1.59 in 6 games and 22 2/3 innings, with a 0.86 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9, and 8.7 K/9.

Justin Cook (Charlottesville 2017), from Richmond, has been named preseason second team at third base. Justin hit 311/358/370 for the Spiders in 2018, with 3 doubles, 1 triple, and a home run. He went 4-30 for the Tom Sox in 2017.

VCU’s Hogan Brown (Strasburg 2018) is honorable mention in the outfield. He hit 344/436/429 for the Rams in ’18, with 11 doubles and 1 triple. For the Express, he hit 266/345/363 in 124 at-bats, with 6 doubles and 2 home runs.

Last but not least, Richmond’s Tim Miller (Charlottesville 2018) is honorable mention at starting pitcher. For the Spiders in 2018, Tim went 5-3, 3.13 in 14 starts and 74 2/3 innings, with a 1.27 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, and 7.6 K/9. He pitched 12 innings for the Tom Sox last summer, and went 0-1, 5.25, with a 1.33 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9, and 7.5 K/9.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Clemson’s Carson Spiers (Charlottesville 2017) is preseason first team at relief pitcher. For Clemson in 2018, Carson went 2-2, 2.08, with a 0.95 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9, and 8.1 K/9 in 32 innings. He pitched in 2 games in relief for the Tom Sox in 2017.

Clemson’s Brooks Crawford (Charlottesville 2016) is listed as honorable mention at starting pitcher. In college in 2018, Brooks was a weekend starter, and went 8-2, 3.24 in 16 starts and 80 2/3 innings, with a 1.10 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9, and 6.5 K/9. For the Tom Sox in 2016, Brooks started four games, going 2-1, 2.01, with a 1.18 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9, and 6.0 K/9 in 20 1/3 innings. He also batted 23 times.

Atlantic Sun

Alex Brait (Waynesboro 2018) was named to the preseason team at catcher. From Florida Gulf Coast, Alex hit 335/404/467 in his sophomore season, and was named one of the top prospects in the Valley League by ATVL.

Stetson’s Jacob Koos (Winchester 2016) made the preseason team in the outfield. Jacob hit 291/387/423 in 234 at-bats for the Hatters in 2018, with 50 runs, 34 RBIs, 14 doubles, 4 triples, 3 home runs, and a 32/29 BB/K ratio. For the Royals in 2016, he was 20-69 at the plate, slashing 290/380/362 with 1 home run.

Kohl (Kenneth) Gilmore (Winchester 2017) made the preseason team at designated hitter. For Florida Gulf Coast in 2018, he hit a robust 282/399/525 in 202 at-bats, with 34 runs, 43 RBIs, 14 doubles, 1 triple, 11 home runs, and a 36/41 BB/K ratio. He hit 280/310/427 in 82 at-bats in the summer of 2017, with 12 runs, 18 RBIs, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, and a 2/27 BB/K ratio.